Portable mixer



Feb. 28, 1950 R. N. BROKINS 'PORTABLE MIXER Filed Sept. 20, 1948 fra/en for @WQ/4M Patented Feb. 28,l 1950 l 2,499,052f roa'rABLE MIXER Richard N. Brookins,South Gate, Calif., assigner to Essick Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation-of California Application September 20, 1948', Serial No. 50,071

. l This invention has to do with a portable mixer and it is a general object of the invention `to provide a portable mixer particularly useful for handling plaster, cement, and like products, and which can be used to advantage in buildings-of various kinds and is such that it can be-advan tageously moved from one location to another yby means of a motor vehicle, or the like. Y

Portable mixers are in general use `and it is common to transport such devices from` onelocation to another by means of motor,;;-:vehicles. When a mixer is transported Iby means ofgizan automobile the speeds at which it may. be'moyed require that the supporting structure havefaxwide tread or a wide engagement with the pavement. Otherwise the structure is unstable. Y' Mixers such as are ordinarily employed inA c nnection with building construction are` moved from one building to another and because ofthe It is a general objectof this inventionxto-provide a mixer in which the mixer, per se, isicontractf' ible or subject to being folded so that it' will .pass through a narrow opening and in which the wheeled support provided for the mixer. is colf lapsible or contractible, enabling it to pass through a narrow opening. g

A general object of the invention is to provide a structure of the character referred to in which the mixer per se is ,characterized by a tiltable body with a projecting discharge chute and aprojecting sack support, one of which is subject to being folded relative to the body. Through the construction provided by the present linvention the folding projection is such as ,to project a substantial distance from the body when the mixer is in use and it may be foldedinto position where it does not add to the width-f the mixer when the body is positioned to be passed throughr a narrow .Opening- I' i Another object of thisV invention is to provide astructure of the general character referred to .wherein a mixer ofthe typereferred to is comu 8 Claims. (Cl. 259.--176)v binedl witha wheeled support which is operable betweena position where the` supporting Wheels are wide apart and project a substantial distance from the sides of the main structure and a position wherethe wheels are in or relatively close together vand are within the connes of the ymain structure. i

A further object of this invention is to provid a mixer or structure of the general character referred to involving few inexpensive parts and in which the working elements are all such that they can beoper-ated easily and quickly.

Thevarious objects Vand features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Fig. 1 is a side elevati-on of the mixer provided by the present invention showing it from the side equipped with the sack'support and showing it in position for operation as a mixer. Fig.v 2 is a front end elevation of the structure, being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1-, the structure being shown in position to operate with the body in the upright position and with the sup-,- porting wheels spread so that the structure is stable and edectively supported. Fig. 3 is a View showing the supporting structure contracted and the body of the mixer tilted with its parts in posi; tion enabling thel whole structure to be passed through a narrow opening such asa doorway, Fig, 4 is an enlarged plan section taken as indicated by line 4` -4 on Fig. 2, and Fig.`5 isa reduced side` ele-` vation of the mixer similar to Fig. 1, showing-the structure tilted in a manner to lift the supporting wheels from the ground so that they can be readily adjusted either in or out. y l i The structure provided by the present invention involves, generally, a frame A, an adjust-` able wheelsupport B for the frame, a mixer C carried by the` rframe and power means D supe ported by `theframe and driving the mixer. l

The frame A may, in practice, vary widely form and construction and it is provided, primarily, as a str-ucture or element to which the other principal elements of the apparatus are joined. In the particular form of the invention illustrated the vframe A involves, generally, a base or platform l0, front and rear standards Irl and l2 projecting-upwardly from the base, laterally spaced legs I3 depending from the base, and a draft tongue I5.. y: The particularbase I0 illustrated in the draw? ings is formed or made up of side rails or beams of the structure where. they support the powerl means D`. It will be apparent thatr one or more lateral frame members or spreaders I8 may be provided in the base construction to stabilize the beams as circumstances may require. In the pre-V ferred arrangement the beams I6 are. inwardly faced channel-shaped members and. they are such as to be horizontally' disposed in order to form a horizontal base or platform I when the structure is in the positions shownv Figs.. L

to 3 of the drawings.

The front standard I.I is located at' the fon ward end of the base and it is preferably integrallyjoinedI to the beams of the baseto project upwardly therefroml in themanner clearly shown throughout the drawings. y

The; rearv standard I2'- is located' rearward of the: front standard II and has spaced legs |29 joi'ned to the bearns It` and extending upwardly to a bearing 20 which carries the mixer aswill be. hereinafter described".

The stabilizing base or rest I4" depends from the: forward endV of the base I0 and' it may, as shown in the drawing', be an integra-l exten?- sionl or continuation oi'A the fron-t standard IiI. In the preferred construction the lowerl endof the`v rest' is provided with an enlargement' or foot'. 21|Y suitable for resting on the ground, or the like;

The draft tongue I5 extends longitudinally' of the structure and is preferably locatedy centrally thereof. In thev preferred arrangement the tongue is suitablly anchored to thev parts; just described. For instance, its rear endf may be securedE to a transverse frame member I8- or the like while its forward endy portion extends through a. suitable opening 25 in the rest I4 and projects a substantial distance forward of the rest. as clearly shown in Fig. I ofthe drawings. I'n prac'- tfce itis desirablethat the drafttongueexten-ds forward and somewhat-downward asv shown in the drawings, so` that' when it is elevated to a substantially horizon-tal` position the rest I@ is' lifted clear of' the ground-while the base Ill", although tilted somewhat from the horizontal position. is clear of the ground.

The adjustable wheeled suplzxort` B is: located somewhat to the rear of the center off' gravity of the'A other parts of the structure as a whole and' cooperates with theI support I'4'- to hold the structure@ in an upright or working position, as is shown in Fig. .1' of the drawings.

TheA support A involves-y generali-yf,v a pair of supporting wheels 3U; axles 3f carrying the wheels.. guides 32 carried by the legs If3 of the frame and slidably` supporti-ng the: axles; and means or holders133" releasably holding' the axles against movement in the guides..

"Ehe wheels 30 are preferably alike and are suitably mounted on the7 outerV ends ofthe axles SI, the innerends of the axles being slidabl-y carried. i'n the guides 32", one axle being carried in one guide and the other axle being' carried in the other guide.. The guides 3i."z preferably simple tubular parts iixed to the lowerl ends of thelegs I3 and'- disposed transversely of the frame. The guides are preferably located ina com-mon horizontal? plane and' they terminate at points well; within the sides of"V the frame S10 that the axles can be slid in the guides to positions where the wheels are within the connes of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It is also to be observed that the axles and guides are so related and proportioned as to allow the axles to be extended from the guides so that the wheels 30 are supported in positions where they are outward of or laterally lremoved from the' frame' substantial distances, with' the result that the wheels are wide or far apart, providing stable support for the structure as shown in Fig. 2;,of, the drawings.

The holders 33 serving to releasably hold the axles against-sliding' movement in the guides may beE simple` bolts or bolt-like fasteners engaged 'through openings in the guides and axles, which openings. register when the wheels are in the desired positions either retracted, as shown in Fig; 31, or-v extended, as shown in Fig. 2.

The mixer proper, C is shown as involving a drinn or'bodyf 40 formedof; acurved shell Mir with a1- sideA opening and ends 42 closing bothT ends. of the; shell.. The; mixer. further'. includes a2 lat'- orally' projecting. discharge lip: 45; adjoining and projecting outward-1 from oneA edge: of: the,A shell opening and a sack support or: rack 46. piyotally connected: to the` shell to be'y located adjacent or in the vicinityV of the opposite edge of; the shell opening. In` the preferred construction4 a lipv SLA projects; from. the edge. of. the shell' open.- ing opposite: that. from which the lip;I 4,5 projects and flanges: 53 on. the ends 42'. of the shell. engage.` and support' the ends of lip 45e. The: rack 46- is pivotally mounted:` adjacent lip 45e..

The discharge lip 45. isy preferably fixed toor integrally connected with'. the shell1 andy flanges 48y proj ect iromutheA shell. and'. join to the endsY of the lip 45'.. llangcsi` 48 have edges 49: disposed tangential. tol the shell. or. tol a,4 circle somewhat smaller than and. concentric' withl the shelll and the edges Il!!v are in. line. with. like edges 49a on the".y flanges 53..

The'v sack. holder or rack 46 is shown as involving spaced; side plates: 50 having supporting bars 54 extending between: the plates and` a pivot bar 52 pivotally' connects the rack. to flanges' 53 adjacent-the. outer' edge of: lip 45a.. When. the rack is operating position,n as. shown. in Fig.. 3,. the plates 46 project: outwardl from thek shell and the bars 5I' are. locatedi to eiectively support the sack; orI sacks inA the course of their being' emptied into the shell between the lips that project at the shell opening... The mounting of the. rack through the pivot bar 57,"V allows the rack to be moved toaninoperativv'epositiorr as shown in Eig'. 3, where edges 552 of. the .platesv arev substantially flush with. one` side" of the structure and are: substantially parallel withy the: edges 4,9 andi 49e'of flanges 48 and 53, respectively when the. shell. is tilted to a position whereits opening faces one sideof. the. structure, alli as clearly shown in Fig. 3A of? the drawings. In the preferred: arrange ment of.' parts stops 60 areprovi'd'ed toI support the rack in the operating position show-n inl Fig. 2, the stops bein-g projections on: the ends 42- of they mixer body which projectionsare locatedi to bef engaged by the plates 46 of the rack'. One of thebarsy 5I is so located as tostop the rack i-n the otherposition, as shown in- Fig'. 3', theside bar 5Ii being located to engage or stop against theilanges 53.

An operating handle 1D is provided for tilting 'vor rocking they body 4U betweenl positions such as are shown Figs. 2" and".4 3,: andi in accordance 1 with the preferred form of' the invention the rinomata:y

l handle 'l0 is releasably coupled to the body 40 by means of a stirrup-like guide ll and a pin12 projecting froml the body to enter a hole in the handie, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The construction is such that the handle projects from the body 40 forming an effective operator, whereas by tilting the handle it may be disengaged from the pin 12 following which it can be slid from the stirrup l I The power means D is mounted on the rear end portion of the frame A or on the base I0 rearward of the mixer C. It will be understood that in practice any suitable prime mover, as for intanoe, a motor or engine 80, may be .employed as the driving unit of ther means-D and that ans7 suitable drive may be provided between such engine or motor and a suitable agitator ,85 lprovided in the body 40. f v y When the structure involving the present invention is in use the body 40 may be positioned so that the opening in the shell faces upwardly as shown in Fig.' 2 and the sack rack 46 may be positioned to project upwardly from the shell of the body at the side of thev opening removed fromv the discharge lip 45. Further, the wheels 30 may be set in the spread or vextended position where they effectively support and stabilize the structure. After a change of material has been mixed the body may be tilted through operation of the handle 'l0 so that the material discharges over the lip 45. i

When it is desired to transport the structure from one location to the other as by means of a draft vehicle, it is merely necessary to lift the forward end of the structure and attach the draft tongue l5 to the 4draft vehicle. The wheels in the spread position are far enough apart so that the structure is stable and can be operated over ordinary pavements at speeds commonly attained by motor Vehicles. When it is desired to pass the structure through a limited opening, as for instance, through a doorway X, as shown in Fig. 3, the wheels are moved to the contracted or collapsed position, the body is operated to the tilted position where the shell opening is at one side of ythe structure, and the sack rack is pivoted to'an upwardly projecting position, all as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. To facilitate adjustment of the wheels either in or out, it is merely necessary to lift the forward end of the structure by means-0f the draft tongue, causing the rear end portion of the frame to engage and pivot on the ground Y on which the structure is located. Through this action, as shown in Fig. 5, the wheels may be lifted from the ground making Vit simple and easy to effect the desired adjustment. i

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited'or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A structure of the character described including, a frame, a support carrying the frame and including a pair of wheels and means coupling the Awheels for movement transversely of the structurebetween-a spread position and a contracted position, a mixing drum having a substantially cylindrical wall rotatably supportedby the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the structure, the drum having a normally upwardly opening mouth at one side and extending substantially tangentially thereof to have a portion projecting outward from said wall, and a rack shiftably carried by the drum at the mouth thereof to shift from a working position outward of the mouth and a retracted position inward of the mouth, the drum being operable to a position where the mouth extends vertically and the rack is retracted, and the wheels when in the contracted position having their outer sides substantially aligned with the sides of the drum so the structure has an overall width substantially equal to the diameterv of said wall.

2. A structure of the character described lncluding, a frame, a support carrying the frame and including a pair of wheels and means coupling Athe wheels for movement transversely of the structure between a spread position and 4a. contracted position, a mixing drum having a substantially cylindrical wall rotatably .supported by the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally ofthe structure, the drum having a normally upwardly opening mouth at one side and extending substantially tangentially thereof to have a portion projecting outward from saidY wall, the mouth having a pouring lip at one end. facing substantially circumferentially of the wall, and a rack pivotally carried by the .drum at the other end of 'the mouth to shift from a working position overlying the mouth vand projecting out.

ward of said wall and a retracted position inward of the mouth and projecting from said. othery end thereof, the drum being operable to a position where the mouth opens yat one side of the structure and extends vertically and carries the rack in the retracted position, and the Wheels when in the contracted position having their outerL sides substantially aligned with the sides of the drum so the structure has an overall width substantially equal to the diameter of said wall.

3. A structure of the character described including, a frame, a support carrying the frame andincluding a pair of wheels and means coupling the wheels for movement transversely of `the structure between a spread position and a con--` tracted position, a mixing drum having a substantially cylindrical wall rotatably Supported by the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of thestructure, the drum having a normally upwardly opening mouth at one. side and extending substantially tangentially thereof to have a portion projecting outward from said wall, the mouth having a pouring -lip at one end facing around the drum in one direction, and a rack pivotally carried by the drum at the other end of the mouth to shift from a working position overlying the mouth and projecting outwardly of the walland a retracted position inward of the mouth and projecting from said other end thereof, the drum being operable to a posi tion where the mouth opens at one side of the structure and extends vertically with the rack retracted, and the wheels when in the contracted position having their outer sides substantially aligned with the sides of the drum so the structure has an overall width substantially equal to the diameter of said wall, the rack including spaced plates with edges substantially aligned with the mouth when the rack is in the retracted position.

4. A structure of the character described including,a frame, a support carrying the frame and including a pair of wheels and means coupling the wheels for movement transversely of the structure between a spread position and a con- 

